May
27
2018
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
The World’s Cheapest Airlines and What Pilots Make
Review: ANA First Class, Houston – Tokyo
May
27
2018
I’m just back from Tokyo and Shanghai. My wife and I flew to Asia on a Virgin Atlantic 120,000 mile roundtrip ANA first class award. It’s one of the better value redemptions in all of travel — United would charge 220,000 miles roundtrip for the same thing, Aeroplan 210,000 miles, and Avianca LifeMiles 204,000. ANA itself charges 150,000 miles roundtrip.
And it turns out the deal is even better than that because most of the points for these two tickets came from American Express Membership Rewards transfers — when there was a transfer bonus. I called up Virgin Atlantic, put the award on a 24 hour hold, and then transferred the points. Not bad for a roundtrip ticket that was pricing at $22,907 apiece.
It’s Raining Engine Parts in Japan
May
27
2018
Ten engine parts fell out of a Japan Airlines Boeing 767 hitting a car and a medical clinic. The plane was headed from Kumamoto airport to Tokyo Haneda as flight JL632.
A left engine blade sustained significant damage. The parts falling from the sky “cracked a clinic window in Mashiki, Kumamoto Prefecture, and damaged a car on the premises.”
Puppies Born at Gate 80 of Tampa Airport Just Before Boarding American Airlines Flight
May
26
2018
A yellow lab named Eleanor Rigby (like the Beatles song) gave birth at Tampa airport’s gate 80 just prior to boarding a flight to Philadelphia. She had eight puppies. The airport’s fire and rescue team was called to the scene to assist with the delivery.
This is absolutely adorable. But even people can expect to take some time off in the days leading up to giving birth, and certainly shouldn’t be flying. This dog almost gave birth on the plane. And why isn’t this service animal fixed..?
Paypal Entering the Points Game and What It’s Like to Work for Qatar
May
26
2018
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
Are Centurion Lounges So Busy Nobody Goes There Anymore?
May
26
2018
I was in the Phiadelphia airport’s Centurion lounge this past week. I hadn’t been since the lounge’s pre-opening event in October. It was packed.
They’re popular with travelers because they’re better than the lounges that were already in the airport before American Express opened them. However with high demand comes real wear and tear on the spaces.
“You’re My Bartender” Fight Breaks Out When American Flight Attendant Won’t Serve Beer
May
26
2018
On Wednesday’s American Airlines flight AA1293 from St. Croix to Miami passenger Jason Felix was apparently drunk when he boarded.
Unsurprisingly the flight attendant wouldn’t serve the man another beer — and they wound up discussing whether the flight attendant was the man’s bartender.
I Don’t Get It, Why Are People Still Collecting SkyMiles?
May
26
2018
When a loyalty program becomes less rewarding, it moves the needle with consumers less. That’s a fairly basic proposition.
It’s not any different than the idea that if you raise prices consumers buy less of your product. There are exceptions of course, where some goods become more desirable because they’re expensive, but those are real outliers. This works fairly consistently and reliably.
How Delta Overcharges You for Award Tickets
May
25
2018
Delta saver business class awards between US and Europe are supposed to cost 70,000 miles each way unless you’re using SkyMiles to fly on a Delta airlines partner in which case they charge extra miles. At least that’s the theory.
Delta charges what Delta wants to charge sometimes. But you can do something about it when you book.
How to Fix the Problem of Inflight Credit Card Announcements
May
25
2018
Inflight credit card announcements aren’t going to go away no matter how much customers complain. However I do think the announcements could be done in a way that’s friendlier for passengers — and more effective for card issuers and their co-brand partners.
